First Target Center Renderings Released

Updated: 05/13/2014 5:44 PM KSTP.com
By: Nick Tabbert

New initial renderings for the redesigned Target Center were released today during the Minneapolis City Council's Community Development & Regulatory Services Committee meeting.Photo: Photo: Architectural Alliance/Target Center

New initial renderings for the redesigned Target Center were released today during the Minneapolis City Council's Community Development & Regulatory Services Committee meeting.Photo: Photo: Architectural Alliance/Target Center

A new look for an old favorite.

Initial renderings of what a renovated Target Center will soon look like were released Tuesday during a Minneapolis City Council committee meeting.

Final renderings will be released later as part of the renovation project, but for now fans have an idea of what changes are going to happen to one of Minneapolis' busiest buildings.

The renovations will add more gathering spaces and more premium seating for fans attending Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx games. Upgraded loading docks, lighting and sound equipment will make it easier for concerts to come to Target Center. Updates to the exterior of the building will also be made, including a glass atrium looking over Target Field and over a patio along First Avenue.

The Minneapolis City Council's Community Development & Regulatory Services Committee released the renderings at its meeting Tuesday. It also also approved a contract with Architectural Alliance and Sink Combs Dethlefs as the architecture and engineering team to update and improve the facility that opened in 1990.

The City Council's Ways & Means Committee will hear the recommendation on May 19. The City Council will vote on the contract on May 23.

The project will cost $97 million in all. Last fall, the City of Minneapolis announced it would pay $48.5 million of that cost, while the Timberwolves and Lynx would pay $43 million. The Target Center operators, AEG, agreed to pay $5.5 million.

Construction is expected to begin over the summer months. The entire project will be done in stages over a period of between 18 months and two years.